Melrose News

This week in class students have been discussing ways to stop bullying in schools by becoming Active Bystanders. We have discussed the difference between ‘bullying’ and ‘bothering’, listed the different types of bullying behaviours, and identified ways to help others around our school when we see or hear bullying. Students in A10 are running their EQ assembly on the theme ‘Take a Stand- Lend a Hand’, and the assembly will finish with the whole school singing “I Gotta Feeling’ (Melrose version). You are most welcome to come along tomorrow and join us in celebrating this event.

Many thanks to Kerry Holt and Andrew Patton for the work they have done this week to promote anti bullying. We are fortunate to have such passionate staff, and are grateful for their expertise and assistance.

Vacation Care programs have been finalised. We have many fantastic activities planned for the children over the Term 1 break. Should you wish to make a booking, please phone Wendy at the front office. Bookings and all payments must be made no later than Friday 28th March.

Students will travel by bus to participate in the Melrose School Athletics Carnival on Thursday 3rd April, at the Wodonga Athletics Track, Pearce Street, Wodonga. Senior and middle Years students from Year 3 to Year 6 will leave Melrose at 9.15am and return at 2.30pm, junior students in years Foundation to Year 2 will leave Melrose at 11.40 and return at 2.30pm. Students are to be in full school uniform or house colours, bring drink bottle and lunch (NO LUNCH ORDERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM SCHOOL CANTEEN ON THIS DAY) Snacks will be available from the track canteen. Parents are very welcome to attend. Please return your signed permission form along with $3.00 to school by Friday 28th March 2014.

Year 6 students have the opportunity to have their names printed on the back of their school shirts. For this to happen, they need to bring a clean, named school shirt and $12 to their classroom teacher by Friday 4th April (last day of Term 1). Their name needs to be written in permanent marker somewhere on the inside of the shirt so they do not get mixed up after printing. The shirts will be back by the start of term two. The cost of this will be $12 per item printed. Multiple items can be printed, however only school shirts can be printed.

Bullying is something we hear about often both at school and in the workplace. However, people can hold quite diverse views on what bullying actually is. The national definition of bullying agreed to by all state and territory departments is repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons. Bullying has negative impacts for students who are bullied, those who do the bullying and the students who witness it. Involving students in the school’s anti-bullying strategies is an important part of the solution. Australian research shows that bullying peaks during the years of transition to high school and early high school, and then tends to decline in senior school.

Some students are more likely to be bullied – those who stand out as different, those with a disability and those who react more strongly to teasing. Some students are also more likely to bully others. Bullying is serious: even what appears to be ‘mild’ bullying can have a devastating impact on students if they don’t feel safe coming to school and are not able to focus on learning and having fun with friends.

Why talk about bullying? The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is on 21 March 2014. This day is an opportunity for students, teachers, parents and the whole community to take a stand together against bullying and violence. This activity is part of the work being done across Australia to ‘take a stand together’ on the National Day of Action.

Please support Trent Martin in raising funds for Autism Awareness. As a student of Melrose Primary School Trent asks that you support him and other students with Autism by wearing BLUE this April 2nd in support of Regional Australia Autism Support Networks.

Bring in a gold coin donation on Wednesday April 2nd and wear some funky blue clothes to raise funds to support local families with Autism. There will also be Autism pins, clips and more to purchase so bring in some gold coins.